Foot cleaner device for vehicles

ABSTRACT

A device for attachment to automobiles, trucks and the like. This device includes a bracket which mounts to the vehicle and has pivotally secured to it, a nippled member for scraping slush and the like from one&#39;&#39;s shoes.

United States Patent 1 Veith FOOT CLEANER DEVICE FOR VEHICLES [76]Inventor: Louis A. Veith, Route No. l, Pierz,

Minn.

22 Filed: June 10, 1971 211 App]. 110.: 151,866

[52] U.S. Cl. 280/164 A, 15/237 [51] Int. Cl. B60! 3/04 [58] Field ofSearch 280/164 A, 166;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,212,111 l/1917 Roos280/164A June 19, 1973 2,557,229 6/1951 Lyster 280/164 A 2,991,1187/1961 Sleger 280/166 X 3,097,388 7/1963 Grcsko 280/164 A X FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATlONS 300,482

Primary ExaminerLeo F riaglia [57] ABSTRACT A device for attachment toautomobiles, trucks and the like. This device includes a bracket whichmounts to the vehicle and has pivotally secured to it, a nippled memberfor scraping slush and the like from ones shoes. 7

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 11/1928 Great Britain 280/166 PAIENIED JUN I9W 3. 740.072

IAAAAAAmAAAA XAAAAAA INVENTOR. L OU/S A. VE/ TH FOOT CLEANER DEVICE FORVEHICLES This invention relates to accessories, and more particularly toa foot cleaner device for automotive vehicles.

It is therefore a primary purpose of this invention to provide a footcleaner device which will be mounted on the lower channel groove in thedoor opening of a vehicle in order that one may scrape slush and othermatter from the soles of persons entering the vehicle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the typedescribed which will be pivotable sideways as well as upwards so as toprevent the device from being struck accidentally.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a foot cleanerdevice which will serve to prevent the accumulation of slush andchemicals on the vehicles mats, thus giving the mats a much longerendurance.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a device of the typedescribed which will be demountable from the vehicle when desired andthe device is of such structure so as to be secured in a positionapproximately six inches back of the hinged side of the vehicles door onthe lower channel groove of the door frame.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a unit of thetype described which may be used in plurality, one at each door of thevehicle.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a foot cleanerdevice for vehicles which is simple in design, inexpensive tomanufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient inoperation.

These and other objects will become readily evident upon a study of thefollowing specification together with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention shownpartly broken away; and

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1 shown in elevation.

According to this invention, a foot cleaner device for automotivevehicles is shown to include a mounting bracket 11 having an upperflange 12 with a plurality of spaced apart openings 13 for receivingsuitable fasteners in order to secure device to a vehicle (not shown).The main body 14 of bracket 11 is provided with a plurality of spacedapart openings 15 providing additional securement means for bracket 11if desired. Extending from the main body 14 are a pair of parallelspaced apart cars 16 having each, an aligned opening 17 therethroughwhich when aligned with opening 18 of plate 19, will receive bolt 20which is secured in position by means of a nut fastener 21 against alock washer 22. The bolt 20 enables plate 19 to be pivoted upwards inorder that it will be out of the way when not in use.

A hard rubber strip 23 is bonded to plate 23' which is pivotablehorizontally to plate 19 by means of bolt fastener 24. Bolt fastener 24is extended through strip 23, plate 23' and plate 19 and receives a nutfastener 25 which abuts with a lock washer 26.

It will be noted that the rubber strip 23 has moulded and extendingtherefrom a plurality of spaced apart nipples 27 which provides a means;for fixedly engaging a sole of a shoe in order to remove the slush orother foreign matter therefrom.

In use, plate 19 and its attached plate 23' may be pivoted upwards aboutbolt fastener 20 when device 10 is not in use.

It will be noted further that the rubber strip 23 and its bonded plate23 may be readily pivoted horizontally to the side of the vehicle and ifstruck by an object when the vehicle is traveling, plate 23' and itsassociated rubber strip 23 automatically pivots to the side of thevehicle.

What I now claim is:

l. A foot cleaner device for automotive vehicle, comprising a mountingbracket, a flange carried by said mounting bracket for securing saiddevice to a vehicle upper part of a rocker panel in a door opening andis secured by suitable fasteners, a pair of laterally spaced verticallyextending ears carried by said bracket and extending outwardlytherefrom, a plate pivotally connected to said ears by bolt meansextending transversely through aligned apertures in said ears and platefor vertical swinging movement of said plate between an upright storageposition and a horizontal operative position, a rubber strip pivotallyconnected to said plate for pivoting about a vertical axis toward thevehicle side when said plate is in the operative position, said rubberstrip being nippled for scraping the soles of a vehicle occupants shoesprior to entering the vehicle.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said bracket of saiddevice is adapted to be secured to said vehicle by suitable fastenersreceived within openings of said flange of said bracket and saidfasteners received openings of the main body of said bracket thusrendering said brackets stationary, said bolt means being carried at oneend of said plate and comprising a bolt extending through said aperturesand secured therein by a nut and a lock washer.

3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein said rubber strip isbonded to said plate.

1. A foot cleaner device for automotive vehicle, comprising a mountingbracket, a flange carried by said mounting bracket for securing saiddevice to a vehicle upper part of a rocker panel in a door opening andis secured by suitable fasteners, a pair of laterally spaced verticallyextending ears carried by said bracket and extending outwardlytherefrom, a plate pivotally connected to said ears by bolt meansextending transversely through aligned apertures in said ears and platefor vertical swinging movement of said plate between an upright storageposition and a horizontal operative position, a rubber strip pivotallyconnected to said plate for pivoting about a vertical axis toward thevehicle side when said plate is in the operative position, said rubberstrip being nippled for scraping the soles of a vehicle occupant''sshoes prior to entering the vehicle.
 2. The combination according toclaim 1, wherein said bracket of said device is adapted to be secured tosaid vehicle by suitable fasteners received within openings of saidflange of said bracket and said fasteners received openings of the mainbody of said bracket thus rendering said brackets stationary, said boltmeans being carried at one end of said plate and comprising a boltextending through said apertures and secured therein by a nut and a lockwasher.
 3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein said rubberstrip is bonded to said plate.